Wrapping device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a wrapping device to wrap an object in foil material including a frame, a wrapping table mounted on the frame and configured to support the object during wrapping, one or more roll support devices to support one or more rolls of foil material to be rotated about the object during wrapping, a carrying structure mounted on the frame and configured to carry the one or more roll support devices, and a clamping and cutting device to clamp the foil material after wrapping of an object, and to cut the clamped foil material, wherein the clamping and cutting device is mounted on the carrying structure, and wherein the carrying structure is pivotable about a substantially horizontal pivot axis with respect to the frame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/303,245filed on 23 Nov. 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of PCTapplication number PCT/NL2010/000068 filed on 15 Apr. 2010, which claimspriority from Netherlands application number 1037003 filed on 29 May2009, and a continuation-in-part of PCT patent application numberPCT/NL2010/000075 filed 6 May 2010, which claims priority fromNetherlands application number NL 1037000 filed on 29 May 2009. Allaforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wrapping device for wrapping objectsin foil material. In particular, the invention relates to a wrappingdevice for wrapping bales of crop material after a bale has been formedin a baling device. The baling device and wrapping device may beintegrated in a single agricultural unit or be provided as two separateagricultural systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wrapping devices for wrapping a bale in foil material are for instancedisclosed in WO00/36903, EP 1285571, DE4404225 and EP 1 502 495, whichdocuments are each hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

An embodiment of a known wrapping device comprises a frame, a wrappingtable mounted on the frame and configured to support the object duringwrapping, one or more movable roll support devices to support one ormore rolls of foil material to be rotated about the object duringwrapping, a carrying structure mounted on the frame and configured tocarry the one or more roll support devices, and a clamping and cuttingdevice.

The clamping and cutting device is provided to clamp the foil materialafter wrapping of an object to facilitate the cutting of the foilmaterial, and to cut the clamped foil material, so that the wrapped baleis no longer connected to the rolls of foil material. The clamping andcutting device usually comprises a catch element to catch the foil inorder to make the clamping of the foil possible. This catch element maybe brought in the trajectory of the foil material during wrapping inorder to catch the foil and clamp it at a cutting location. In thiscutting location, the foil is cut between the bale and the respectiveroll of foil material, so that the wrapped bale is no longer connectedto the roll of foil material.

The clamped end of the band of foil connected to the roll of foilmaterial is held in the clamping and cutting device after cutting untilthe wrapping of a new bale is started. When the foil is rotated at leastone time about the bale, the clamped end in the clamping and cuttingdevice may be released as the first windings of foil may hold the end ofthe band of foil.

Such clamping and cutting device must be placed at the end of thewrapping process at least partially in the trajectory to catch the foil,while at the beginning of the process it must be placed outside thetrajectory as the one or more roll support devices must be rotated atleast once about the bale before the clamped end of the band of foil maybe released.

At the same time little space is available in the known wrapping deviceto place a clamping and cutting device, in particular at a location inwhich the catch element can easily be moved into and out of thetrajectory of the wrapping material during wrapping. As a result, manyknown clamping and cutting devices of wrapping devices have a complexconstruction. Multiple movements, rotations and translations, have to beperformed to catch and clamp the foil, and multiple hydraulic cylindersare required to perform these actions. Furthermore, the time requiredperforming the catching and clamping is relatively long.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a wrapping device having aclamping and cutting device which is compact, reliable, and of relativesimple design, or at least to provide an alternative wrapping device.

The invention provides a wrapping device to wrap an object in foilmaterial, the wrapping device comprising:

-   -   a frame,    -   a wrapping table mounted on the frame and configured to support        the object during wrapping,    -   one or more movable roll support devices to support one or more        rolls of foil material to be rotated about the object during        wrapping,    -   a carrying structure mounted on the frame and configured to        carry the one or more roll support devices, and    -   a clamping and cutting device to clamp the foil material after        wrapping of an object, and to cut the clamped foil material,        wherein the clamping and cutting device is mounted on the        carrying structure, and that the carrying structure is pivotable        about a pivot axis with respect to the frame.

In a wrapping device according to the invention it is possible to movethe wrapping and cutting device with respect to an object supported onthe wrapping table. This is advantageous as this movement may be used tobring the wrapping and cutting device in or outside the trajectory ofthe band of foil material which is wrapped about the object. Forinstance, after wrapping the carrying structure may be moved to aposition wherein the clamping and cutting device is at least partiallylocated within the trajectory of the one or more roll support devicesduring wrapping. Before a new object is wrapped, the carrying structuremay be pivoted back to bring the clamping and cutting device outside thetrajectory of the one or more roll support devices.

The possible movement of the clamping and cutting device by pivoting ofthe carrying structure provides more flexibility and space for thelocation of the clamping and cutting device. As a result, it may bepossible to provide a clamping and cutting device having a less complexconstruction than known clamping and cutting devices.

In an embodiment the carrying structure is pivotable about asubstantially horizontal pivot axis.

In an embodiment, the wrapping device is configured to pivot thecarrying structure from a wrapping position to a cutting position beforecutting of the foil material, whereby in the cutting position a cuttinglocation of the clamping and cutting device is substantially arranged inan imaginary plane defined by the middle of the height of the one ormore rolls of foil material during wrapping.

By placing the cutting location of the clamping and cutting device insubstantially the same plane as the plane defined by the middle of therolls of foil material during wrapping, the foil can be cut at a cuttinglocation which is substantially in the middle of the last band of foilwrapped on the object.

As a result, the clamping and cutting device can be arranged relativelyclose to the object, which is advantageous since a relative short looseend of foil material remains on the object, and more space is availablefor mounting the clamping and cutting device in the wrapping device.

In an embodiment, the clamping and cutting device comprises a catchelement, wherein the catch element is movable between a catch positionto catch the foil material and a clamp position in which the foilmaterial can be clamped in order to facilitate cutting of the foilmaterial. The movement of the carrying structure from the wrappingposition to the cutting position and the movement of the catch elementfrom the catch position to the clamp position are preferably performedsimultaneously.

In an embodiment, the catch element has a curved shape and is linearlyguided in a bearing. In such embodiment, the catch element istranslatable between a clamp position in which the catch element mayclamp the foil and a catch position in which the catch element may catchthe foil. In the catch position the catch element must be able to catchthe whole height of the band of foil, while in clamp position the foilmaterial can be clamped in order to facilitate cutting of the foilmaterial.

Furthermore, the curved shape of the catch element, for instance the arcof a circle, makes it possible to arrange the catch element in differentorientations by translation. For instance, the catch element may bearranged to locate the catch element in the catch position substantiallyperpendicular, or at least at a relative large angle, for instance 50degrees to 90 degrees, with respect to the band of foil material, and inthe clamp position in a position substantially parallel, or at least ata relative small angle, for instance 0 degrees to 40 degrees, to theband of foil material. This makes a compact design of the clamping andcutting device possible.

This is advantageous as the different possible orientations may be usedto bring the catch element in a position for catching the foil and in aposition outside the trajectory of the one or more rolls of foilmaterial during wrapping without the requirement of rotation of thecatch element, the latter being the case in most prior art clamping andcutting devices.

In an embodiment the catch element comprises a mechanism, such as hook,at an end to take along caught foil material when the catch element istranslated from the catch position to the clamp position. The hook maybe provided by placing an element which extends at least partiallyperpendicular to a catch surface of the catch element.

As an alternative or in addition thereto the catch element may beprovided with features to improve taking along of the foil during themovement of the catch element from the catch position to the clampposition, such as friction material or little hooks or other extensionson the catch element.

In an embodiment, the bearing is formed by pairs of guiding rollersarranged at opposite sides of the catch element. It has been shown thatpairs of guiding rollers, for instance two pairs of guiding rollers atopposite sides of the catch element provide a suitable linear bearingfor translating the catch element with respect to a casing or otherstructure in which the bearing is arranged.

In an embodiment, the catch element is arranged to catch the foilmaterial at a convex side of the catch element.

In an embodiment, the clamping and cutting device comprises a hydrauliccylinder to move the catch element between the catch position and theclamp position, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder is arranged at aconcave side of the catch element.

By placing the hydraulic cylinder at the concave side of the guidingelement, a relative short cylinder may be used for the displacement ofthe catch element from the clamp position to the catch position.

In an embodiment, the clamping and cutting device comprises a clampelement which is movable towards the catch element in the clamp positionto clamp a foil between the catch element and the clamp element. Byproviding a separate movable clamp element which is movable towards thecatch element in the clamp position, the release of the foil does notrequire an upward movement of the catch element.

This is advantageous as the release of the foil may be performed duringthe wrapping of an object. Since no upward movement of the catch elementis required, the wrapping and cutting device can be placed closer to thetrajectory of the roll support device which makes the wrapping devicemore compact and the required displacement of the catch element betweenthe catch position and the clamp position smaller.

In an alternative embodiment the clamp element may be fixedly arrangedwith respect to the bearing and the clamping force may be obtained bythe actuator of the catch element.

In an embodiment, the clamping and cutting device comprises a cuttingelement arranged to cut foil clamped between the catch element and theclamp element, and the clamp element and cutting element are actuable bya clamping and cutting hydraulic cylinder, wherein the clamp element andcutting element are connected to each other with a compressible elementto obtain a clamping and subsequent cutting action.

In such embodiment only one actuator, for instance a hydraulic cylinderis required for performing both the clamping and the cutting of thefoil. After the catch element is displaced to the clamp position, thefoil can be clamped by moving the cutting element towards the catchelement. This movement is obtained by actuation of the hydrauliccylinder which is directly connected to the cutting element.

Since the clamp element is connected to the cutting element via thecompressible element, for instance a spring, also the clamp element willmove towards the catch element. When the clamp element hits the foil,the cutting element will be pushed further by the actuator resulting incompression of the compressible element. The force exerted by thecompressible element on the clamp element is used as clamping force toclamp the foil between the catch element and the clamp element.

The invention also provides an agricultural unit comprising:

-   -   a baling device comprising bale forming means to form a bale        including a pivotable rear flap to open a baling chamber in        which the bale can be formed, and    -   a wrapping device according to the invention to wrap the bale        formed in the baling device in foil material.

The wrapping device according to the invention is in particular suitablefor wrapping bales of crop material after being formed in a balingdevice. The baling device and the wrapping device preferably have acommon frame. The wrapping device may be arranged to wrap a bale at thelocation of the baling chamber, but is preferably mounted next to thebaling chamber such that baling and wrapping of different bales can beperformed substantially simultaneously. In an alternative embodiment thewrapping device may have a separate frame.

The invention further provides a method for wrapping an object in foilmaterial, using a wrapping device comprising a frame, a wrapping tablemounted on the frame and configured to support the object duringwrapping, one or more roll support devices to support one or more rollsof foil material to be rotated about the object during wrapping, aclamping and cutting device to clamp the foil material after wrapping ofan object, and to cut the clamped foil material at a cutting location,and a carrying structure pivotably mounted on the frame and configuredto carry the one or more roll support devices and the clamping andcutting device, comprising the steps of:

-   -   placing an object to be wrapped on the wrapping table;    -   wrap the object in foil material by rotating the one or more        roll supports about the object, while rotating as the same time        the object on the wrapping table;    -   pivoting the carrying structure from a wrapping position to a        cutting position before cutting of the foil material, wherein in        the cutting position the cutting location of the clamping and        cutting device is substantially arranged in an imaginary plane        defined by the middle of the height of the one or more rolls of        foil material during wrapping, and    -   cutting the foil material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated uponreference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an agricultural unit according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the agricultural unit of FIG. 1 duringwrapping of a bale;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the clamping and cutting device of theagricultural unit of FIG. 1 during wrapping of an object;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the clamping and cutting device of theagricultural unit of FIG. 1 with the clamp element in the catchposition;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the clamping and cutting device of theagricultural unit of FIG. 1 with a foil clamped between the catchelement and the clamp element;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the clamping and cutting device of theagricultural unit of FIG. 1 just after cutting of a foil; and

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the agricultural unit of FIG. 1 duringcutting of the foil in the clamping and cutting device.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The following is a description of certain embodiments of the invention,given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1shows, in top view, an agricultural unit according to the inventionwhich is generally indicated with the reference numeral 1. Theagricultural unit 1 comprises a baling device 2 and a wrapping device 3,and is configured to form and wrap bales of crop material. FIG. 2 showsa side view of the agricultural unit 1 of FIG. 1 during wrapping of abale, as will be described hereinafter.

The baling device 2 and the wrapping device 3 are mounted on a frame 4which is supported by a pair of wheels 5. The front end 6 of the frame 4is configured to be connected to a tractor, or other machineryconfigured to move the agricultural unit in an intended drivingdirection, indicated by an arrow A. A drive shaft 7 is provided tocouple the agricultural unit 1 to a drive mechanism, for instance adrive shaft of a tractor.

The wrapping device 3 is partly located below the baling device 2 toobtain a compact design.

The baling device 2 comprises a stationary part 8 and a pivotable rearflap 9. The pivotable flap is pivotable about a pivot point arranged atthe top side of the stationary part 8 and the pivotable rear flap 9. Ahydraulic cylinder 10 is provided to pivot the rear flap 9 between anopened and a closed position. During movement of the pivotable flap 9between the closed and opened position, the pivotable rear flap followsthe trajectory 11.

The baling device 2 further comprises a locking arm 12 which isconfigured to hold the stationary part 8 and the pivotable rear flap 9together when the pivotable rear flap 9 is in the closed position. Ahydraulic cylinder 13 is provided to move the locking arm 12 between alocking position in which the stationary part 8 and the pivotable rearflap 9 are held together, and a non-locking position wherein thepivotable rear flap 9 is not prevented to pivot to its opened position.

The baling device 2 comprises a baling chamber 14 in which the bale 50may be formed by use of baling means 2 a comprising rolls and bands torotate and press the crop material to form a bale 50. The baling chamber14 is a variable baling chamber configured to form round bales of cropmaterial of different diameters, for instance 80, 100, 130 and 160 cm indiameter. For further details on an embodiment of a baling device havinga variable baling chamber reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,197,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other typesof baling devices having a variable baling chamber may also be applied.As an alternative the baling chamber 14 may be configured to form baleswith constant diameter.

The wrapping device 3 is configured to wrap a bale 50 in wrappingmaterial, typically plastic foil material provided on rolls. The foilmaterial is wrapped about the bale 50 to cover the outer surface of thebale 50.

The wrapping device 3 comprises a wrapping table 15 which supports thebale 50 during wrapping and a wrapping means 16. The wrapping table isconfigured to rotate the supported bale 50 about its cylindrical axisduring wrapping.

The wrapping table 15 is pivotable about pivot axis 15 a betweendifferent positions. A hydraulic cylinder 20 is provided to pivot thewrapping table 15 between the different positions.

The wrapping table 15 can be placed in a receiving position (not shown)to receive a bale 50 from the baling chamber 14. During wrapping thewrapping table 15 is placed in the wrapping position as shown in FIG. 2.

In the wrapping position the wrapping table is positioned in an angle of0 degrees with the horizontal plane. In the receiving position thewrapping table 15 is pivoted 20 degrees towards the baling device 2,while in the release position the wrapping table 15 is pivoted 20degrees away from the baling device 2.

The wrapping means 16 comprises a ring 17 supporting two roll supportdevices 18 each configured to support a roll of wrapping material 19.The ring 17 is movably supported by a number of rollers 21 mounted on acarrying structure 22. The ring 17 is rotatable during wrapping in orderto move the rolls of wrapping material 19 about the bale 50 supported onthe wrapping table 15. The carrying structure 22 is mounted under thering 17.

The wrapping means 16 further comprises two clamping and cutting devices100 to cut the wrapping material between the bale 50 and the rolls ofwrapping material after the wrapping of the bale 50 has finished.

The clamping and cutting device 100 will now be described in moredetail. FIGS. 3 to 6 show side views of the clamping and cutting device100 during different stages of use.

FIG. 3 shows the clamping and cutting device 100 during wrapping of abale on the wrapping device 3.

The clamping and cutting device 100 comprises a casing 101 which ismounted on the carrying structure 22 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 7), and a catchelement 102 which is movably supported by guiding rollers 103 in thecasing 101. The catch element 102 comprises near one end a hook formedby a plate element 104. The catch element 102 is curved having the shapeof an arc of a circle, and can be translated between a clamp position(FIG. 3) and a catch position (FIG. 4). In an alternative embodiment thecatch element may comprise a curved guiding element.

In the catch position, the catch element 102 is arranged substantiallyperpendicular, or at least at a large angle, for instance 50 degrees to90 degrees, with respect to the band of foil material 105 (shown indashed lines in FIG. 4), which is a desirable orientation for catchingthe foil. In the clamp position the catch element 102 is arrangedsubstantially parallel, or at least at a small angle, for instance 0degrees to 40 degrees, with respect to the band of foil which is adesirable position in view of the available space for mounting aclamping and cutting device in the wrapping device 3.

A hydraulic cylinder 106 is provided to translate the catch element 102between the clamp position and the catch position. The hydrauliccylinder 106 is located at the concave side of the catch element 102,and rotatably connected to the casing 101 and the catch element 102.This is advantageous because the displacement of the piston of thehydraulic cylinder 106 is substantially smaller than the displacement ofthe catch element 102 from the clamp position to the catch position.Thus a relative small hydraulic cylinder 106 may be used for a largedisplacement of the catch element 102.

The wrapping and cutting device 100 further comprises a clamp element107 which is rotatable about a pivot axis 108 from a non clampingposition (FIG. 3) to a clamping position (FIG. 5) in which foil 105catched and gathered by the catch element 102 can be clamped between thecatch element 102 and the clamp element 103. The location where thecatch element 102 and clamp element 107 clamp the foil 105 is alsoreferred to as cutting location 120.

In an alternative embodiment, the clamp element 103 could be anon-movable element mounted on the casing 101, whereby the foil 105 isclamped by the force exerted by the hydraulic cylinder 106 on the catchelement 102. However, the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3-6 is preferred,because the release of the foil at the start of wrapping of a new baledoes not require an upward movement of the catch element 102, but only adownward movement of the clamp element 107.

Since the release of the foil 105 is performed during wrapping, anupward movement of the catch element 102 is undesirable, as it wouldresult in a risk of interference of the catch element 102 in thetrajectory of the rolls of foil material 19 and/or a lower location ofthe wrapping and cutting device 100 with respect to the rolls of foilmaterial 19 resulting in a lower catch position of the catch element 102and a larger space required for build-in of the wrapping and cuttingdevice 100.

A cutting element 109 is provided to cut the foil clamped between thecatch element 102 and the clamp element 107. The cutting element 109 isalso rotatably mounted on pivot axis 108 with an arm 109 a at theopposite side of the casing 101 with respect to a rotation arm 107 a ofthe clamp element 107. A hydraulic cylinder 110 is provided to move thecutting element 109 towards the catch element 102 in clamp position tocut the foil clamped between the catch element 102 and the clamp element107.

The clamp element 107 and the cutting element 109 are movably connectedto each other by a torsion spring 111. Any other suitable compressibleelement may also be provided between the clamp element 107 and thecutting element 109, for instance a spring placed directly between theclamp element 107 and the cutting element 109.

When the hydraulic cylinder 110 is actuated to move the cutting element109 towards the cutting location 120, also the clamp element 107 ismoved towards this location. When the clamp element 107 reaches the foil105 gathered by the catch element 102, the clamp element 107 is stoppedby the foil 105 and only the cutting element 109 is moved furthertowards the cutting location 120, while the spring 111 is compressed.The compression of the spring 111 causes a clamping force being exertedby the clamp element 107 on the foil and the catch element 102 with theresult that the foil 105 is clamped between the catch element 102 andthe clamp element 107, as shown in FIG. 5.

Further movement of the cutting element 109 by the hydraulic cylinder110 will move the cutting element 107 to the cutting location 120 asshown in FIG. 6 where the foil is cut. The cutting element 109 islocated at the side of the bale 50, so that the end of the foil 105which is still clamped after cutting is connected to the respective rollof foil material 19, while the wrapped bale 50 is no longer connected tothe roll of foil material 19.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the wrapping means 16 are arranged atan inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane, whereby thepart below the baling device 2 is the closest to the ground. As a resultthe trajectory of the moving parts of the wrapping device 3, such as therotatable ring 17 and roll support devices 18 is also inclined with theangle α with respect to the horizontal plane.

During wrapping the angle α will be in the range 5 to 45 degrees,preferably between 10 to 30 degrees.

The wrapping means 16 can be rotated with respect to the frame 4, sincethe carrying structure 22 is pivotably mounted on a pivot axis 23 whichis arranged parallel to the pivot axis 15 a. A hydraulic cylinder 24 isprovided to pivot the carrying structure 22 between different positions.The carrying structure 22 is at least pivotable between a wrappingposition in which the wrapping means 16 are positioned to wrap a bale 50supported on the wrapping table 15, as shown in FIG. 2, a releaseposition, wherein a bale 50 can pass through the ring 17 in order to bereleased from the wrapping device 3, and a transport position, whereinthe wrapping means are brought in a position suitable for transport ofthe agricultural unit.

In the release position and the transport position the angle may be 40to 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane, preferably 50 to 70degrees.

The top of the trajectory of the wrapping means, in particular of thetops of the roll supporting devices 18 is indicated with a dashed linein FIG. 2. This trajectory of the roll supporting devices 18 duringwrapping does not overlap with the trajectory 11 of the rear flap 9 ofthe baling device 2. As a result, the wrapping process can be startedindependent of the position of the rear flap 9 of the baling device 2,i.e. wrapping can start before baling. Also, the rear flap 9 can bebrought to the closed position in order to start the formation of a newbale 50 independent of the wrapping process.

Now will be described how a bale 50 may be formed and wrapped in anagricultural unit 1 according to the invention.

To form a bale 50 of crop material, the baling device 2 comprises apick-up device (not shown) for picking crop material from an undergroundover which the agricultural unit 1 is moved. The crop material isintroduced into the baling chamber 14 to form a bale 50 of crop materialby pressing and rotating the crop material into a cylindrical form untila bale 50 of the desired diameter is formed.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that pick up devicesare well known in the art. A baler is provided with a rotary drivenpick-up that comprises an elongate drum that is oriented transversely tothe direction of travel. The drum comprises a large number of so-calledtine arms that extend away from the drum and pick-up crop material fromthe ground as they are driven in rotation. Located downstream of thepick-up is a large rotor that chops the crop material into smallerpieces and takes care of transporting the material towards the balechamber. Such pick-up devices are known from for example GB2169551 andEP1273218 both references of which are hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties.

Since considerable forces are used to form the bale 50 in the balingchamber 14, the locking arm 12 is held in the locking position to holdthe stationary part 8 and the pivotable rear flap 9 together.

When a bale 50 of a desired diameter has been formed the baling processis stopped and the pivotable rear flap 9 is opened to release the bale50 from the baling chamber 14. For opening of the baling chamber thelocking arm 13 is brought into the unlocked position.

Due to gravity, the bale 50 will roll from the baling chamber 14 towardsthe wrapping table 15 which is placed in the receiving position toreceive the bale 50.

It is remarked that the supporting surface of the wrapping table islocated at a lower level than the bottom side of the baling chamber 14so that the bale 50 can roll from the baling chamber 14 to the wrappingtable 15 due to gravity. A guiding ramp or any other transfer means maybe provided to guide the bale 50 from the baling chamber 14 to thewrapping table 15.

It may be possible that in certain circumstances, for instance in hillyareas, the gravity force is too small to transfer the bale 50 in aproper way from the baling chamber 14 to the wrapping table 15. In suchcase, an actuation element may be provided to create or stimulatemovement of the bale 50 towards the wrapping table 15. When in contrastthe gravity force is too large to transfer the bale 50 in a proper wayfrom the baling chamber 14 to the wrapping table 15, a stop or guidingelement to inhibit or decelerate movement of the bale 50 may be providedin order to create a proper transfer of the bale 50 from the balingchamber 14 to the wrapping table 14.

When the bale 50 is supported on the wrapping table 15, the wrappingtable may be pivoted to the wrapping position, and the wrapping processmay be started.

For wrapping a bale 50 of crop material the bale 50 is supported on thewrapping table 15 while the ring 17 with the roll support devices 18 isrotated about the bale 50 in order to wrap the wrapping material on thebale 50. At the same time, the bale 50 is rotated about its cylindricalaxis, so that different parts of the bale 50 are aligned with the rollsof wrapping material in order to wrap the complete surface of the bale50 in wrapping material.

At the start of the wrapping process the end of the foils are clamped inthe respective clamping and cutting devices 100, whereby the clampingand cutting devices 100 are located outside the trajectory of the foilbeing winded about the bale 50. After the rolls of foil have beenrotated at least once about the bale 50 the clamped end may be releasedby moving the clamp element 107 to a non-clamping position.

By further simultaneous rotation of the rolls of foil material 19 aboutthe bale and rotation of the bale 50 on the wrapping table, the bale iscompletely wrapped in foil material.

At the end of the wrapping phase the rotation of the roll supportdevices 18 and the rotation of the bale 50 about its longitudinal axisis stopped

In the last rotation of the roll support devices 18 about the bale 50,the catch elements 102 of the two clamping and cutting devices 100 aretranslated to the catch position to catch the foil between therespective roll with foil material 19 and the bale 50. Then the foil istaken along with the catch element 102 by moving the catch element 102back to the clamp position.

When the catch element 102 is in the clamp position, the clamping andcutting cylinder 110 may be actuated to subsequently clamp the foil withclamp element 107, and cut the foil with cutting element 109. Thelocation at which the foil is clamped and cut is referred to as cuttinglocation 120.

During the translation of the catch element 102 to the clamp position,the carrying structure 22 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 7. Inthis position, the cutting location 120 is situated at substantially thesame height as the plane 121 defined by the middle of the roll of foilduring wrapping of the bale 50. As a result, the cutting location 120 isin the middle of the band of foil of the last winding on the bale 50.Due to this cutting location 120 the stresses in the foil material arerelatively low, and the foil can be cut relative close to the bale 50.This results in a relative low loose end of the foil. Furthermore, theclamping and cutting device 100 can be placed relatively close to thebale 50.

After cutting of the foil, the end of the band of foil connected to theroll of foil material is clamped between the catch element 102 and theclamp element 107. This end of the band of foil remains clamped untilthe wrapping of a new bale 50 has been started.

The wrapped bale 50 is ready to be released on the ground. To releasethe bale 50, the wrapping table 15 and the wrapping means 16 may each bepivoted to the release position. In the release position of the wrappingtable 15, the bale 50 may roll off the wrapping table to the ground. Thebale 50 may go through the ring 17 of the wrapping device 3 as the ring17 has been pivoted together with the wrapping means 16 to the releaseposition.

Since the carrying structure 22 has already been pivoted to the positionshown in FIG. 7, only a short rotation, i.e. pivot movement has to bemade to position the wrapping means 16 in the release position. In anembodiment, the position of the carrying structure and wrapping meansshown in FIG. 7 is also the release position

Hereinabove a wrapping means 16 has been described comprising arotatable ring 17 and roll support devices 18. In an alternativeembodiment the wrapping means may comprise a stationary guiding ringwhich is configured to guide the roll supporting devices about the bale50. Any other suitable type of wrapping means may also be applied.Preferably, a wrapping means is used wherein the devices carrying thewrapping material, for instance roll support devices, form the top sideof the wrapping device, i.e the carrying structure of these devices islocated below the devices.

Hereinabove, an agricultural unit 1 has been described wherein thebaling device 2 and the wrapping device 3 are arranged on a single frame4. In an alternative embodiment, the wrapping device 3 may be arrangedat an independently supported frame which may be coupled to the balingdevice to form an agricultural system, or may be used independent of thebaling device.

The wrapping device 3 as described herein may also be used for any otherobject to be wrapped in foil material.

Further modifications in addition to those described above may be madeto the structures and techniques described herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specificembodiments have been described, these are examples only and are notlimiting upon the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wrapping device to wrap an object in foilmaterial, the wrapping device comprising: a frame, a wrapping tablemounted on the frame and configured to support the object duringwrapping, one or more roll support devices to support one or more rollsof foil material to be rotated about the object during wrapping, acarrying structure mounted on the frame and configured to carry the oneor more roll support devices, and at least one clamping and cuttingdevice to clamp the foil material after wrapping of an object, and tocut the clamped foil material, wherein the clamping and cutting deviceis mounted on the carrying structure, and that the carrying structure ispivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the frame.
 2. The wrappingdevice of claim 1, wherein the carrying structure is pivotable about asubstantially horizontal pivot axis.
 3. The wrapping device claim 1,wherein the wrapping device is configured to pivot the carryingstructure from a wrapping position to a cutting position before cuttingof the foil material, wherein in the cutting position a cutting locationof the clamping and cutting device is substantially arranged in animaginary plane defined by the middle of the height of the one or morerolls of foil material during wrapping.
 4. The wrapping device of claim1, wherein the clamping and cutting device comprises a catch element,wherein the catch element is movable between a catch position to catchthe foil material and a clamp position in which the foil material can beclamped in order to facilitate cutting of the foil material.
 5. Thewrapping device of claim 4, wherein movement of the carrying structurefrom the wrapping position to the cutting position and movement of thecatch element from the catch position to the clamp position areperformed simultaneously.
 6. The wrapping device of claim 4, wherein thecatch element has a curved shape and is linearly guided in a bearing. 7.The wrapping device of claim 6, wherein the catch element in the catchposition is arranged at an angle of 50 degrees to 90 degrees withrespect to the band of foil material, and in the clamp position at anangle of 0 degrees to 40 degrees with respect to the band of foilmaterial.
 8. The wrapping device claim 6, wherein the bearing is formedby pairs of guiding rollers arranged at opposite sides of the catchelement.
 9. The wrapping device of claim 4, wherein the catch elementcomprises a mechanism for taking along foil when the catch element istranslated from the catch position to the clamp position.
 10. Thewrapping device of claim 4, wherein the catch element is arranged tocatch the foil material at a convex side of the catch element.
 11. Thewrapping device of claim 4, wherein the clamping and cutting devicecomprises a hydraulic cylinder to move the catch element between thecatch position and the clamp position, and wherein the hydrauliccylinder is arranged at a concave side of the catch element.
 12. Thewrapping device of claim 4, wherein the clamping and cutting devicecomprises a clamp element which is movable towards the catch element inthe clamp position to clamp a foil between the catch element and theclamp element.
 13. The wrapping device of claim 4, wherein the clampingand cutting device comprises a cutting element arranged to cut foilclamped between the catch element and the clamp element.
 14. Thewrapping device of claim 9, wherein the clamp element and the cuttingelement are connected to each other via a compressible element, andwherein the cutting element is connected to a clamping and cuttinghydraulic cylinder arranged to move, upon actuation the cutting elementtowards the catch element in the clamp position to subsequently clampand cut a foil.
 15. An agricultural unit comprising: a baling device toform a bale, and a wrapping device to wrap the bale in foil material,the wrapping device comprising: a frame, a wrapping table mounted on theframe and configured to support the object during wrapping, one or moreroll support devices to support one or more rolls of foil material to berotated about the object during wrapping, a carrying structure mountedon the frame and configured to carry the one or more roll supportdevices, and at least one clamping and cutting device to clamp the foilmaterial after wrapping of an object, and to cut the clamped foilmaterial, wherein the clamping and cutting device is mounted on thecarrying structure, and that the carrying structure is pivotable about apivot axis with respect to the frame.
 16. A method for wrapping anobject in foil material, using a wrapping device comprising a frame, awrapping table mounted on the frame and configured to support the objectduring wrapping, one or more roll support devices to support one or morerolls of foil material to be rotated about the object during wrapping, aclamping and cutting device to clamp the foil material after wrapping ofan object, and to cut the clamped foil material at a cutting location,and a carrying structure pivotably mounted on the frame and configuredto carry the one or more roll support devices and the clamping andcutting device, comprising the steps of: placing an object to be wrappedon the wrapping table; wrapping the object in foil material by rotatingthe one or more roll supports about the object, while rotating as thesame time the object on the wrapping table; pivoting the carryingstructure from a wrapping position to a cutting position before cuttingof the foil material, wherein in the cutting position the cuttinglocation of the clamping and cutting device is substantially arranged inan imaginary plane defined by the middle of the height of the one ormore rolls of foil material during wrapping, and cutting the foilmaterial.
 17. The method according to claim 16, comprising pivoting ofthe carrying structure about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.